Pest entrapment device and method

ABSTRACT

The invention is directed at to a pest entrapment device for attracting and trapping flying pests around the head of a person. The apparatus includes an attachable device having at least one member, which member contains at least one cavity to hold a pest attractant. The attachable device is affixed to a head covering on the underside of a bill, brim, visor or the like. The pest attractant can be of a combination of grease, carbon dioxide, sweetener, and a sticky, viscid matter. The pest attractant also acts as a trapping substance to capture the flying insects. The pest entrapment device can be removed for cleaning and reapplication of the pest attractant.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 61/263,112 filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Officeon Nov. 20, 2009 and is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to a pest entrapment device and methodfor controlling and entrapping flying pests. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to an apparatus affixed to the underside of aperson's head covering, such as a bill, brim, visor, or the like thatattracts and captures flying insects.

BACKGROUND

Typically, persons spending time outside will apply chemical repellantsto their skin and clothing in an attempt to keep flying insects away.Flying insects that come near the face can bite the skin and beannoying. Many of the repellants available today are prohibited from usein certain outdoor activities, like golfing, for example, because oftheir chemical destructiveness to grass. Most insect repellants containchemicals such as DEET, which has secondary harmful effects to humansand the environment. A majority of these repellents come in the form ofsprays that are difficult to control and localize to prevent harming theenvironment. In addition, some people do not want to spray chemicalsonto their bodies and clothing. Thus, these people will often end upmaking use of appendages such as hands to ward off the flying insects.However, this constant warding-off of pests makes enjoying the outdoorsvery difficult.

Therefore, there is a need for a pest entrapment device that is easy touse, consists of a non-toxic pest attractant, does not need to besprayed onto a person's body or clothing, can be reapplied, and entrapsflying pests that would otherwise be in a person's face.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the invention, a pest entrapment device may include anartificial pest attractant in combination with heat, sweat, and carbondioxide, which are natural pest attractants, that are emitted from aperson's face. The pest entrapment device can capture flying insectsnear the source of these natural pest attractants by attaching to theunderside of an individual's head covering, for instance the bill, brim,visor, or the like of a baseball cap, hunting/fishing cap, helmet,visor, etc. Another aspect of the pest entrapment device is theremovability and transferability of the device from one head covering toanother head covering.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a pest entrapment device mayinclude at least one clip consisting of at least three members: a topmember, a middle member and a bottom member. The clip can be made out ofmetal, for example, iron, steel, or the like or any combination thereof,or plastic or composite. The top, middle and bottom members may all befastened together by soldering, adhesive, fusion, or the like, or themembers can be one piece, or any combination thereof. The middle membercan be a flexible U-shaped piece that is releasable and engageable forexpansion and retention over the various sizes of head covering bills,brims, visors, or the like in which the pest entrapment device may beattached to. The bottom member can have at least one cavity wherein aperson can apply the pest attractant for pest capture. The top member ofthe pest entrapment device can be a solid metal piece in various sizesand shapes. The top member can contain a logo or similar type ofadvertisement, or it can be engraved or otherwise marked. The top membercan be made out of a ferrous metal on which other objects can bemagnetically attached to the top member, for example a ball marker.

Another embodiment of the invention can consist of one continuous pieceof U-shaped flexible material such as metal or plastic or compositehaving a top base member and a bottom retaining member. The embodimentcan be releasable and engagable with a head covering's bill, brim,visor, or the like. The top base member can be a solid piece indifferent shapes or sizes. The top base member can contain a logo,advertisement or other design, or can otherwise be engraved or marked.The top base member can also be made out of a ferrous metal in whichother objects can be magnetized thereto, for example a ball marker. Thebottom retaining member can contain at least one cavity on the outersurface wherein a person can apply the pest attractant for pest capture.

Another embodiment of the invention can include at least one membercontaining an upper surface and a lower surface. The lower surface cancontain at least one cavity to support an insect attractant. The membercan be releasably engaged with the underside of a bill, brim, visor orthe like of a head covering, for example a baseball cap. The uppersurface can include a type of attaching device, for example, adhesive,Velcro™, clip, alligator clip, double-sided tape, snaps, or otherfastening device and the like.

Another embodiment of the invention can include at least one attachableattractant visor that can be attached to the underside of a headcovering's bill, brim, visor, or the like of a head covering. Theattractant visor can be made of plastic or other durable material thatis lightweight and flexible to the contours of the underside of headcovering's bill, brim, visor or the like. The attractant visor materialcan be clear or come in different colors. The attractant visor can beone size or it can have at least one perforation in which a person cancut or otherwise resize the attractant visor to size to fit a specificpurpose head covering's brim, bill, visor, or the like. The attractantvisor can have an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surfacecan contain a substance or other adhesive means whereby the attractantvisor can be attached to the underside of a head covering's bill, brim,visor, or the like. The upper surface can be attached by using anadhesive, double-sided tape, clips, alligator clips, snaps, Velcro™, andthe like. The lower surface can provide a surface for a pest attractantto be applied to and entrap pests. One embodiment of the attractantvisor can be that it is reusable wherein the attractant visor can bedisengaged from the underside of a head covering's bill, brim, visor orthe like, cleaned of entrapped pests, re-applied with pest attractant,and reengaged with the underside of the head covering's bill, brim,visor, or the like.

In another embodiment of the attractant visor, the attractant visor canbe disposable, providing for a one-time use application wherein theattractant visor can be temporarily attached to the underside of a headcovering's bill, brim, visor, or the like for a period of time and theuser would like to remove the attractant visor and throw it away. Forexample, a disposable attractant visor can be used on a daily basiswherein the disposable attractant visor can be discarded after beingused for the day. A new disposable attractant visor can then be attachedto the underside of the head covering's bill, brim, visor, or the like.A further embodiment of the attractant visor can consist of layers ofmaterial, for example plastic sheets or the like. The attractant visorcan have an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface canattach to the underside of a head covering's bill, brim, visor or thelike by an adhesive, double-sided tape, snaps, Velcro™, clips, alligatorclips, and the like. The lower surface can be a thin, hard plastic basewherein sheets of plastic can be attached thereto. The insect attractantcan be applied to the outer surface of the top most plastic sheetwherein pests can be entrapped. After entrapment, the top sheet ofplastic may be torn from the rest and disposed of, and the pestattractant can be applied to the outer surface of the next plasticsheet. Another embodiment can have the pest attractant already appliedto the sheets of plastic so that after one is pulled off and disposedof, pest attractant will already be on the outer surface of the nextplastic sheet. This type of disposable plastic sheet can be made out ofother suitable material.

A further embodiment of the invention can include a pest entrapment kit.One embodiment of the pest entrapment kit can include at least one pestentrapment device, a pest entrapment device cleaning cloth, and a pestattractant. In one embodiment of the kit, the pest entrapment device isan attractant clip. In another embodiment of the kit, the pestentrapment device can be an attractant visor that can be reusable,disposable, or any combination thereof. The pest attractant can be in asolid or liquid state wherein the pest attractant is dispensed from apest application device.

The above summary of the various aspects of the invention is notintended to describe each embodiment or every implementation of theinvention. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so thatothers skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principlesand practices of the invention. The figures in the detailed descriptionthat follows more particularly exemplify these embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These as well as other objects and advantages of this invention will bemore completely understood and appreciated by referring to the followingmore detailed description of the exemplary embodiments of the inventionin conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a person outside encountering a pestproblem;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a person outside using a pest entrapmentdevice;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a pest entrapment kit;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an attractant clip;

FIG. 5 is side view of one embodiment of an attractant clip;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a method of applying an attractant 26 toone embodiment of an attractant clip 24;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a pest attractant applicator;

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a method of cleaning an attractant clip;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view an attractant visor;

FIG. 10 is an illustration of a method of applying pest attractant to anattractant visor; and,

FIG. 11 is an illustration of a method of cleaning an attractant visor.

While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternativeforms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in thedrawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood,however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to theparticular embodiments described. On the contrary, the invention is tocover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The several embodiments as shown in the figures may allow the user ofthe pest entrapment device to have multiple choices to certain featuresand subcombinations of each embodiment, as there are several choicesrelating to the several embodiments available. Advantages andembodiments of this invention are further illustrated by the followingexamples, but the particular materials and amounts thereof recited inthese examples, as well as other conditions and details, should not beconstrued to unduly limit this invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a person 12 outside 18, for example,playing golf and experiencing the environmental problem of pests 14,including biting and flying insects, mites, and ticks. These pests 14are attracted to the face of a person by a number of chemical andphysical factors, including carbon dioxide and water vapor from theperson's breath 22, body heat, and chemicals from a person's sweat thatsits on the surface of the skin. Additionally, pests 14 are alsoattracted to certain colors and textures of clothing, as well as to theodor from soaps, perfumes, lotions and hair-care products. While thatperson may spray or otherwise put on pest repellent to ward off thesepests, sometimes these repellents contain toxic chemicals that keeppeople from applying these repellents to their face. Additionally,sometimes these repellents, because they contain certain chemicals, arenot allowed in certain outdoor activities as they may harm theenvironment, like grass on a golf course. Therefore, a person is leftwith swatting at these pests 14 as they fly around a person's face withtheir own hand and putting up with the pests 14.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a person 12 outside 18, for example,playing golf and using the pest entrapment device 24. Once a persondecides to go outside, that person may be subjected to pests 14, such asflying and biting flies, etc. These pests 14 are attracted to theperson's face because this is where a person's natural attractants forpests are released, such as carbon dioxide and water vapor from thebreath 22, body heat, and chemicals in the sweat found on the surface ofthe skin of the face. A person may use these natural attractants totheir benefit by the addition of the pest entrapment device. Theentrapment device can consist of an attractant clip 24, which containsan artificial pest attractant 26, that can be releasable and engageableto a person's head covering 16, such as the bill, brim, visor, and thelike. The entrapment device's location puts it in the vicinity of wherepests 14 are already drawn because of a person's natural attractants,such as their breath 22 and sweat. The entrapment device redirects thepests 14 from the face toward the artificial pest attractant 26, whereinthe pests 14 are then trapped and no longer in the person's face. Thepest entrapment device can come in a kit 20 that can be easily takenwith a person and used, as described more fully in FIG. 3 below.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a pest entrapment kit 20. The entrapmentkit 20 can easily be carried on or with a person, for example in apurse, golf bag, or the like. The pest entrapment kit 20 can contain anattractant clip 24, an attractant 26, an attractant visor 42 and acleaning cloth 44. Another embodiment of the pest entrapment kit 20 mayinclude at least one or more of an attractant clip 24, a pest attractant26, an attractant visor 42, and a cleaning cloth, or any combinationthereof.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the attractant clip24. The attractant clip 24 can be constructed of metal or any othersuitable material. The attractant clip can have a top surface 28 and abottom surface 30. The top surface 28 and bottom surface 30 can bejoined by connecting member 32, as further described in FIG. 5. The topsurface 28 can be imprinted with an image or logo or otherwise engravedor marked, which such marking can encourage the use of the attractantclip 24. The bottom surface 30 can have at least one cavity 38 whereinthe pest attractant 26 can be applied to entrap pests 14. The topsurface 28, bottom surface 30, and the connecting member 32 can all beone piece, separate pieces, or any combination thereof.

FIG. 5 is side view of one embodiment of the attractant clip 24. Theattractant clip 24 can have a tension spring 34 used to secure theattractant clip 24 to a head covering 16. The tension spring 34 can bepart of the connecting member 32 or it can be fastened by solder,adhesive, fusion or the like, to the connecting member 32. Theattractant clip 24 can also have a stop 60. The stop 60 can be used inconjunction with an accessory marker 40. The accessory marker 40 can bemade of metal, as well, can be imprinted with an image or logo orotherwise marked. One or more accessory markers 40 can be stacked on thetop surface 28 adjacent to the stop 60 and can be held in place by amagnet 36. Accessory markers 40 can be used by a person 12, for example,a golfer to mark a ball location, a hiker to mark a trail location, orthe like to leave a mark in an environment 18.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a method of applying an attractant 26 toone embodiment of an attractant clip 24. A person can after engaging anattractant clip 24 with a head covering's 16 bill, brim, visor and thelike, invert the head covering 16, wherein the bottom surface 30 will beupright exposing a cavity 38. A person can then open a pest attractantapplicator 48 by removing a lid 52 and holding the body 50 of theapplicator 48 with one hand 46, then using the other hand 46 to advancethe pest attractant 26 from within the body 50 of the applicator 48 byturning a knob 54 that is located at the bottom of the applicator 48.After an amount of pest attractant 26 is advanced beyond the opening ofthe body 50 of the applicator 48, a person can then apply the pestattractant 26 to the cavity 38 on the bottom surface 30 of an attractantclip 24.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a pest attractant applicator 48. Theattractant applicator 48 can come in different sizes and shapes, such asan applicator, a cartridge, a tube and the like. The attractantapplicator 48 can have a lid 52 that comes off completely through theuse of a detent or the like, or the lid 52 and the top of the body 50are threaded and the lid 52 can be twisted off and on. The applicator 48can have a lid that is fastened to the body 50 of the applicator 48 bymeans of a hinge, detent, or the like. Extraction of the attractant 26from the applicator 48 can be a linear actuator application when theknob 54 is rotated. There can be a base piece or carriage 58 that ishoused within the body 50 of the applicator 48 and engaged by a linearactuator, which can also be housed within the body 50 of the applicator48. The pest attractant 26 can be situated within the body 50 of theapplicator 48 and on top of the base piece. As the knob 54 is rotated,the base piece is moved up the threaded rod and the pest attractant isexpelled from the body 50 of the applicator 48. Other applicators thatcan apply a viscid material are contemplated, for example, a squeezetube.

The pest attractant 26 can be comprised of a grease makeup base,impregnated with carbon dioxide, sweetener and a sticky, viscid matter.The formulation for pest attractant 26 can allow it to be of a moldablesolid form, in which it can be applied by pressure and rubbing on thecavity 38 of the bottom surface 30 of an attractant clip 24. The pestattractant can stay moist for at least five hours after dispensing andapplying to the cavity 38 of the attractant clip 24.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a method of cleaning an attractant clip 24.A person can hold an attractant clip 24 in one hand 46 wherein thebottom surface 30 is upright and the cavity 38 is exposed. A person canuse a cleaning cloth 44 with the other hand 46 to wipe out the pestattractant 26 and entrapped pests 14 that are in the cavity 38 of theattractant clip 24. The cleaning cloth 44 can be made of microfibercloth, paper, or any other type of cloth or paper or the like. Thecleaning cloth 44 can be washed and reused or it can be a disposablecloth that is thrown out after each use, or any combination thereof. Theattractant clip 24 is then ready to be used again, as described above inFIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an attractant visor 42. The attractantvisor 42 can have an upper surface and a lower surface. The uppersurface can be releasable and engageable with the underside of a headcovering's bill, brim, visor, or the like. The upper surface can beengaged with the use of an adhesive, double-sided tape, Velcro™, clips,alligator clips, snaps, or the like. The attractant visor 42 can be madeout of a sturdy and flexible plastic with at least a 0.06 to 0.12 inchthickness. The lower surface of the attractant visor 42 would be used toapply the pest attractant 26 to, as described more fully in FIG. 10. Theattractant visor 42 can come in one size, or it may come in differentsizes, or it can be of a larger size with the ability to be cut to aspecific size depending on the head covering's 16 specific bill, brim,visor, or the like, size constraints, or any combination thereof. FIG.10 is an illustration of a method of applying pest attractant 26 to anattractant visor 42. A person can attach the upper surface of anattractant visor 42 to the underside of a head covering's 16 bill, brim,visor, and the like and invert the head covering such that the lowersurface of the attractant visor 42 is exposed. A person can then open apest attractant applicator 48 by removing a lid and holding the body 50of the applicator 48 with one hand 46, then use the other hand 46 toadvance the pest attractant 26 from within the body 50 of the applicator48 by turning a knob 54 that is located at the bottom of the applicator48. After an amount of pest attractant 26 is advanced beyond the openingof the body 50 of the applicator 48, a person can apply the pestattractant 26 to the bottom surface of an attractant visor 42. The useof an attractant visor 42 provides for a greater area in which to applyattractant 26 and entrap pests 14.

FIG. 11 is an illustration of a method of cleaning an attractant visor42. A person can hold a head covering 16 inverted in one hand 46 whereinthe bottom surface of an attractant visor 42 is exposed. A person canuse a cleaning cloth 44 with the other hand 46 to wipe the bottomsurface of the attractant visor 42 removing the pest attractant 26 andentrapped pests 14 that are entrapped in the attractant 26 on theattractant visor 42. The cleaning cloth 44 can be made of microfibercloth, or any other type of cloth or paper or the like. The cleaningcloth 44 can be washed and reused or it can be a disposable cloth thatis thrown out after each use, or any combination thereof. The attractantvisor 42 is then ready to be used again, as described above in FIG. 10.The attractant visor 42 can be reusable or it can be disposable or anycombination thereof.

The preceding description has been presented only to illustrate anddescribe exemplary embodiments of invention. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the invention to any precise form disclosed. Manymodifications and variations are possible in light of the aboveteaching. Although specific examples have been illustrated and describedherein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the artthat any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose could besubstituted for the specific examples shown. This application isintended to cover adaptations or variations of the present subjectmatter. Therefore, it is intended that the invention be defined by theattached claims and their legal equivalents.

1. An apparatus for controlling flying insects around the head of aperson when attached to a head covering with a shade producing featurehaving an underside and a topside, the apparatus comprising: a pestentrapment device configured for releasably engaging the shade producingfeature, the pest entrapment device having a member with an uppersurface and a lower surface wherein the upper surface is configured forengagement with the underside of the shade producing feature and thelower surface has a cavity, the cavity configured for application of anattractant and having an exposed region on the lower surface such thatpests may enter the device and be trapped in the attractant. 2-3.(canceled)
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pest attractantcomprises one of grease, carbon dioxide, sweetener, and a sticky, viscidmatter.
 5. (canceled)
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said memberis releasably engaged with said shade producing feature by an attachmentdevice comprising of at least one of the following: double-sided tape,basting, adhesive, two-piece snap fastener, Velcro™, pin fastener, clip,or alligator clip.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pestentrapment device is an attractant clip, wherein the member is a lowermember and said clip further comprises an upper member and a connectingmember, wherein said connecting member is U-shaped and is configured toreleasably engaged said shade producing feature, wherein said uppermember is configured for contact with said topside of said shadeproducing feature.
 8. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said uppermember, lower member, and connecting member are all one piece, or allseparate pieces, or any combination thereof.
 9. The apparatus of claim8, wherein said clip comprises a material selected from the groupconsisting of iron, steel, ferrous metal, aluminum, tin, any combinationthereof, plastic, and composite.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8, whereinsaid connecting member of said clip is at least one of the following:spring clip, tension clip, or alligator clip.
 11. The apparatus of claim8, wherein said upper member of said clip includes a stop and a magnetto affix an object to said upper member of said clip. 12-20. (canceled)21. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an attractant visor.22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the pest entrapment devicecomprises a clip and the attractant visor is configured for securing tothe shad producing feature with the clip.